Rickettsia felis in Ctenocephalides felis from Guatemala and Costa Rica

Rickettsia felis is an emerging human pathogen associated primarily with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis. In this study, we investigated the presence of Rickettsia felis in C. felis from Guatemala and Costa Rica. Ctenocephalides felis were collected directly from dogs and cats, and analyzed by po...

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Published in:The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2012-06, Vol.86 (6), p.1054-1056
Main Authors: Troyo, Adriana, Álvarez, Danilo, Taylor, Lizeth, Abdalla, Gabriela, Calderón-Arguedas, Ólger, Zambrano, Maria L, Dasch, Gregory A, Lindblade, Kim, Hun, Laya, Eremeeva, Marina E, Estévez, Alejandra
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Cats - microbiology
Citrate (si)-Synthase - genetics
Citrate (si)-Synthase - metabolism
Costa Rica - epidemiology
Ctenocephalides - microbiology
Ctenocephalides felis
DNA, Bacterial - genetics
DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification
Dogs - microbiology
Ectoparasitic Infestations - epidemiology
Ectoparasitic Infestations - veterinary
Felis
Guatemala - epidemiology
Humans
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rickettsia felis
Rickettsia felis - isolation & purification
Rickettsia felis - pathogenicity
Rickettsia Infections - microbiology
Rickettsia Infections - transmission
Rickettsia Infections - veterinary
Short Report
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Summary:Rickettsia felis is an emerging human pathogen associated primarily with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis. In this study, we investigated the presence of Rickettsia felis in C. felis from Guatemala and Costa Rica. Ctenocephalides felis were collected directly from dogs and cats, and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for Rickettsia-specific fragments of 17-kDa protein, OmpA, and citrate synthase genes. Rickettsia DNA was detected in 64% (55 of 86) and 58% (47 of 81) of flea pools in Guatemala and Costa Rica, respectively. Sequencing of gltA fragments identified R. felis genotype URRWXCal(2) in samples from both countries, and genotype Rf2125 in Costa Rica. This is the first report of R. felis in Guatemala and of genotype Rf2125 in Costa Rica. The extensive presence of this pathogen in countries of Central America stresses the need for increased awareness and diagnosis.
ISSN:0002-9637
1476-1645
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0742